Nurses aren't maids!

Specialties Private Duty

Published

I'm sorry. I really, really need to vent. I work for a pediatric private duty nursing agency, and I'm an RN. This is what I wish I could say to my new patient's mom: Why the heck would you ask your child's new night nurse to do her laundry?! When the hell did they put laundry questions on the NCLEX? Oh, yeah, they DIDN'T because NURSES AREN'T MAIDS! I'm not your kid's nanny, I'm a healthcare PROFESSIONAL - just like a physician. You wouldn't ask your pediatrician to do your kid's laundry, so you better not ask the nurse to do it, either! It's not 1950, anymore, Sparky!

Of course, I didn't say that. To be nice, I folded the kid's clothes tonight, but then I sent off an email to the clinical director at the agency complaining profusely about this insulting request. I mean, seriously! Where do people get the brass testicles to ask a nurse to do a maid's job?

Why do people automatically assume when they get private duty nursing covered by the state or their insurance that whoever is paying for it also thinks it's cool to provide you with housekeeping services? Isn't that insurance fraud? THe state doesn't want to pay for someone to do your kid's laundry. You can't ask me to do that! Not only is it DEGRADING to ask a healthcare professional to do laundry, it must be abuse of services. I hope to God above that no one at my agency told this woman that nurses do chores, because I will go all the way to the top of national corporate management if someone did. This better be an unfortunate misunderstanding on my patient's mom's part as to what nurses do and DO NOT do.

Has anyone else had to deal with this? I had one other patient's mom ask me if that was something we do, and she totally apologized for asking when I politely told her no. This new patient's mom guided me to the laundry room to make sure I understood how the machines work because she is assuming it's totally in my job description to do laundry. She didn't even ask, she just started out with "when you do her laundry..." Excuse me?! I clean the kid and his or her medical equipment. Nothing else! I'm not a home health aide (whose job it would possibly be). It's just not *my* job to do household chores!

OK, vent over. I feel a little better. Thanks for letting me vent.

Well you shouldn't be playing games on your cell phone either. That's grounds for termination at my agency. Glancing through a book or magazine while a client sleeps is one thing. Putting away the patient's belongings or supplies not over the top. Washing dishes or laundry that you soiled not unexpected.

It's not grounds for termination at mine, if the child is sleeping.

(I don't play games on my phone, for the record.)

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

It's against my agency policy to use a phone or electronic device at work. However, we are told that we can do so if the family doesn't have an issue with it. Many families don't expect us to just sit there when everything is done. So I guess it depends on the agency.

In my opinion, I don't see the difference between reading the news on a phone (since cartoons are on TV all day) and watching TV. Downtime is downtime. As long as the kid is monitored constantly, I don't think it matters. Now, if there is work to be done, it needs to be done first. But I refuse to do cleaning that isn't related to my work. I have no problem telling a parent that I won't do their laundry and then going back to whatever I was doing.

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I am a PDN for an adult client that requires 24/7 care. We all clean her room, wipe down equipment, put away supplies, and fold/put away laundry. None of us hesitates to do it, and if clean laundry or supplies come in toward the end of the shift, we just leave it for the next shift - it is never a problem. I can't stand sitting with nothing to do. If all is well with my client and she is sleeping, I often wish there was more cleaning I could do...

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I am a PDN for an adult client that requires 24/7 care. We all clean her room, wipe down equipment, put away supplies, and fold/put away laundry. None of us hesitates to do it, and if clean laundry or supplies come in toward the end of the shift, we just leave it for the next shift - it is never a problem. I can't stand sitting with nothing to do. If all is well with my client and she is sleeping, I often wish there was more cleaning I could do...

Putting away your dependent client's supplies, laundry, or wiping down your client's equipment & living area is VERY different than what is talked about here. Cleaning dishes you use in assisting your client fine, washing a sink & and counter full of dishes from the family when your client is NPO receiving 100% nutrition & hydration via enteral tube is not our job. Drying/wiping down the tub or shower after bathing your client not the same as cleaning a bathroom never used in the care of your client. Taking out trash you created caring for your client at end of shift very different than emptying all household garbage cans. People will take advantage of PDN if given the opportunity.

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I bring my laptop all the time during 11p-7a shift.

I blog too,....how is that unprofessional?

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This thread really saddened me. Though you may call me unprofessional, and may say that I should never be a nurse, I disagree with the majority of opinions on this post. For me, nursing is a calling. I am going to show compassion for my patients and support to their families no matter what.

Yes, if extra duties are asked for, it they are not unreasonable, and they do not get in the way of patient care, I will do what I can to help. I do not find it demeaning. To bring in the spirituality factor, Jesus did wash His disciples feet. If the LORD of all creation could demonstrate such compassion on humankind, then surely the least I can do is go above and beyond what I normally do.

I am sorry for those who have had bad experiences and have taken advantage of. But like ventmommy stated, sometimes it is just the little things that can make a vast difference in our work. Flame me if you will, but that is my stand, and I will never back down.

Sincerely,

Parakeet

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@parkaeet. 1st, you lost me when you brought the bible into this. good for you for believing in a book written thousands of years ago, but to shame others by quoting the bible is legitimately crazy in the year 2015. 2nd, no offense but your profile says that you're a CNA training to be an LPN. you aren't a nurse yet. you don't know what it's like and you're definitely not an RN. sorry to sound like a jerk that i have more training than you, but the duties of a CNA and LPN are vastly different than RN. so you can be saddened by the thread all you want, but it's completely different from your standpoint. i was a CNA / HHA before i became an RN and i would've definitely done laundry, etc. for patients because i wasn't a highly skilled professional with years of experience and 4 year degree. it's not the same. and that's great for Jesus, but... who cares?

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Was there a needs assessment done before your arrival to their house? Care plan completed by their case manager? Here, Ontario (Canada), everyone from CNA to RN's are taught to touch nothing that is not in our care plan. If something happens, you would not have any insurance coverage for activities that were not pre-approved. Imagine breaking their washing machine? First question from insurance would be "what were you doing in that room and why?". there are also priorities to consider.

We are taught to politely refuse, explain reasons, and ask them to call their case worker, if they have questions/need reassessment. I do usual "oh I'd love to help you out, but I can't because so and so". Many clients Know it might not be your job, but will try their luck anyway.

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Oh my gosh, I totally hear you. Feel the same way

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Amen girl! Im in a similar spot now.

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Do not do their laundry. Do not do non-medical essential things. Follow the care plan.

Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for:

  • Homemaker or custodial care services (i.e. cooking, shopping, laundry)
    • Unless custodial care is part of the skilled therapy services you receive from a home health aide or other personal care attendant.

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Do not do their laundry. Do not do non-medical essential things. Follow the care plan.

Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for:

  • Homemaker or custodial care services (i.e. cooking, shopping, laundry)
    • Unless custodial care is part of the skilled therapy services you receive from a home health aide or other personal care attendant.

Great post,but some of the 485 actually do have light housekeeping and laundry on them.

Also,for me personally,I try to avoid private pay clients,even when they are directly paying the agency.

They tend to want less actual nursing and more housekeeping duties.

I really hate basic cases for this reason also-the ones with no gtubes,Iv,Trachs,vents,and no special precautions.

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